Encore 23 Fort Max

[Ode to a Grasshopper]

This was a big surprise last night and I quickly put a preorder in a BBTS since why not? Doesn't cost me anything yet.

Then in the morning I woke up and looked at my (still quite new to me, but a bit worn) Fortress Maximus sitting on my drawers and wondered do I really need two?

Fortress Maximus. Fun gimmicks and just by pure size it's damn impressive looking in any collection. But I think part of what made Fort Max such an appealing toy to buy was that it was, until now, generally unobtainable.

Due to price and rarity, having a Fortress Maxmius was a status symbol. It showed you're a little insane to spend so much on a figure, but that you were truly committed to your Transformer collecting . You hunted down parts, or used chemicals to get the white back. You didn't acquire a Fort Max lightly (unless you fluked an opp shop find as has happened).

Now that it's a newly mass-produced figure, that specialness has gone. When the orders start coming in and twenty people in a row post their Fort Max acquisition it wont be the same as the rare acquisitions they've been in the past.

Perhaps Grand Max will fill that void now? Or an intact Black Zarak? Or another Japanese figure. I don't think any other Western release will quite match Fort Max as a object of desire, and that's a little sad.

I'm kind of hoping the Brave Max prices drop. It might happen since I think a lot of the interest in that figure was that it was the cheapest way to get the mold. (And I need one to finish my RID show cast collection)

Regardless getting a nice new MISB version of a G1 toy is great. Long live the Encore line.

I kinda know what you mean - even though FM was never really on my list of TFs-to-get he has always been kind of a status symbol, and this reissue does sorta detract from that.
I'm glad more people can enjoy it, but it does also make it less of a 'special piece'. I couldn't really find the words to express the feeling, but you nailed it @Paulbot.
Anyway, for my part...

To be honest, Fortress Maximus really isn't that impressive a Transformer action figure, even by G1 standards. The transformation/engineering isn't all that clever -- toys like Triggerhappy and Snapdragon have far more interesting designs.

Edit: Mucho wrong - first japanese retailer listing it for 25,032Y (retail 31,290Y)....

...thanks to the 3 of you for helping me put into words why I'll be passing on this one - and helping me save 30,000 yen.
For those who do want it, I hope you enjoy his biggishness.

[GoktimusPrime]

Anyway, for my part......thanks to the 3 of you for helping me put into words why I'll be passing on this one - and helping me save 30,000 yen.

Heh, it's true though. Aside from his size and gimmicks, he's a very ordinary action figure. There are Mini-Cons and Legends/Legion Class Transformers who have more complex transformations than Fortress Maximus.

Transform to battleship mode: lie down on his back, flip some stuff. Done.
Transform to city mode: lie down on back, tuck legs in (which at his size is like wrestling a midget), fold some stuff. Done.

But to be fair, Fort Max does justify his size as a play set though - and he is a kickass play set. He's not like other "big just for the sake of being big" Transformers like Supreme Cheetor, Cybertron Emperor Starscream, Energon Omega Supreme, Beast Machines Nightscream, Combiner Class ROTF Devastator etc. -- with these toys you think, "Why did they need to be so big?" and their bigness actually detracts from the value of the toy. But that's not the case with Fortress Maximus. When you play with this toy in battleship and city modes, you can understand/appreciate why it was done at that size, especially when interacting with other Transformers. But as an action figure he's ordinary at best. I don't think Fort Max is worth above RRP, but I do think he's well worth RRP, whereas when I bought ROTF Combiner Class Devastator on sale, I _still_ felt ripped off!

But honestly... if they ever did a Classicsverse Fortress Maximus, I'd be happy if they did him as a Deluxe Class (maybe a Voyager or Ultra if people really want him to be taller than most other Classicsverse toys). Make him a kind of tank like he appears to be in the IDW comics. That would suit me fine, and he'd probably be a great action figure then.

For those who do want it, I hope you enjoy his biggishness.

It compensates for the tiny size of my little savings. Drained by purchasing such a freaking expensive toy!

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P.S.: A Japanese fan just told me that there's a current embargo on information regarding Encore Fort Max atm, hence why TakaraTOMY would have told me that they have no current plans on reissuing Fort Max.

[drahsrebu]

Robot Kingdom looks like the place to go but why is there such a price difference??

[Vector Sigma 13]

Finally something to get excited about again!

[fatbot]

Robot Kingdom looks like the place to go but why is there such a price difference??

you have to factor in shipping to the US or other countries. Plus each mob have a different % mark up

[rocman12]

I won't be getting him, I wish they would re-engineer the mould to be more like a masterpiece!

[Skullcruncher]

The number of original fort max's on ebay seems to have increased - people trying to get their money back before the price drop! I hope they then reissue this guy as grand too. That might get me excited about it.

[5FDP]

The number of original fort max's on ebay seems to have increased - people trying to get their money back before the price drop!

That was bound to happen and one of the very reasons why you shouldn't rely on toys as an investment.

[sideswipes brother]

The number of original fort max's on ebay seems to have increased - people trying to get their money back before the price drop! I hope they then reissue this guy as grand too. That might get me excited about it.

Same thing happened with Predaking in 2004. I noticed about a week after the announcement that the preds were being reissued, Ebay was flooded with originals.